The Prince - Stone Sculpture Made of Leopard Rock by Bakari Manzi | Zimbabwe

Size, Weight & Medium: 68 x 33 x 27cm/25kg-Est./Leopard Rock

The Prince is a stone sculpture crafted from Leopard Rock by Zimbabwean sculptor Bakari Manzi (1968–2002). This piece was part of a collection brought into the UK in 1993 by Edward Hildyard and featured in the Five Ways Brighton Festival Open Houses exhibition at his residence in Fiveways, Brighton.

Bakari Manzi is renowned for his work in serpentine stone and gained recognition for creating a notable statue during Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Zimbabwe in 1997. His work has been exhibited internationally, including the Sculptors of Zimbabwe exhibition in Wageningen in 1989. Bakari was the son of Josiah Manzi, a founding member of the Tengenenge Art Community in Guruve, and a key figure in the Zimbabwean contemporary stone sculpture movement of the 1960s.

While we do not have a certificate of authenticity, the piece bears Bakari’s signature and exhibits clear stylistic elements consistent with his other works. We have titled it The Prince, inspired by Bakari's typical naming style and the princely features it portrays, with long locks of hair symbolizing the regal headdresses worn by African royalty.